Combined spark intensifier and detector for internal-combustion engines



H. BEEIBiNGFiELD COMBINED SPARK INTENSIFI'ER AND DETECTOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Oct. 28, 1920 M m spark Patented Apr. W, 1923.

CEIARLESHENRY-BEDINGFIELD, F MAPLE, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOIR- TO FREDERICK QMIPBELII RUSSELL ANSLEY, OF ST. GATHERINES, OE'TARICO,

CMYAJDA.

COMBINED SPARK INTENSIIIER AND DETECTOR FDR. INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

7 Application filed oetobenuu, 1929. Serial No. 420,211.

To alt wlzo'm it may concern;

Bent known that I, CHARLES HENRY Bro moment), of the village of Maple, in the county of York, in the Province of Ontario,

Canada, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Combined Spark Intensifiers and Detectors for Internal-Com bastion Engines, of which'the following is the specification. I

invention relates to improvements in intensifiers and detectors for internal combustion engines and the object of the invention is to devise an intensifier inwhich the resistance may be varied and in which 116 the resultant spark is visible for the purposes of ascertaining the correct resistance required. 'A further object. is to providemeans on each spark plug for detecting any fault therein, and a-still further object is no to provide means whereby any defects in the circuit can be detected, irrespective of the failing of the spark plug.

.My invention consists of a device constructed and arranged all as hereinafter at more particularly described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 represents an elevation of my device showing the same applied to the spark plug of an internal combustion engine.

W Fig. 2 is a plan view of 'my device.

Fig. 3 is a plan view broken away intermediately to expose the interior thereof.

Fig. 4c is a horizontal section, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section.

Like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different views.

, l is the shell of the spark plug. 2 is the porcelain. 3 and tare the ignition points. 5 is the terminal provided with the nut 6. 0 7, 8, and 9 are suitably spaced plates of insulating material such as fibre, the lower and upper plate 7 and 9 respectively being provided with he circular windows 10 and 11'.

12, 13 and 14 are registering orifices in the platesi'i', 8 and 9 respectively to receive the terminals 5.

15 is a detector finger of suitable flexible conducting material, said finger being preferably pointed atits lower end, the upper lee end 16 being bent over on itself and designed to straddle the lower insulating plate 7,. 17

is a plate of conducting material bent back will appear.

on itself and adapted to straddle the end of the plate 9 remote from the end and having the orifice 1 The intermediate plate 8 has a longitudinal slot 18 extending from one end to intermediately of the length of the plate. 19 is a s otted plate having the pointed end 20 and the turned over end 21, said plate being adapted to slide in the slot 18 of the intermediate plate. 22 is a screw'bolt extending thronghthe lower plate 7, through the slot 23 in the slotted plate l9,through the portions of the plate 17 and provided above such plate 17 with the locking nut 24: and the knurled nut 25.

The end of a secondary cable 26 is adapted 'to be inserted between the knurled nut plug, by pressing thefinger 5 until it is very close to the shell 1 of the spark plug with some instrument of non-conducting material such as a pencil. .if' the plug is in working order a spark will jump between the shell and the point of the finger. If on the other hand the spark plug is shorted no spark In using my intensifier if'the magneto of the automobile is weak the plate 19 can he slid longitudinally by means ofthe turned over end 21 until the end 20 thereof comes closer to the edge of the turned over portion of the finger 1.6, thus reducing the gap and consequently reducing the resistance. By manipulating this movable plate the most efi'ective gap can be determined for magnetos of different strength.

, Visibility is essential as it is only by seeing the quality of the spark that the correct setting can be determined.

If there is no spark across the gap between the pointed end 20 of the plate 19 and the adjacent edge of the upper portion 16 of the finger 15, it will indicate that the device innate circuit is defective, exteriorly of the spark lug. v

From the above description'it will be seen that l have devised a simple and efiective spark intensifier and detector that can be cheaply constructed and which can be readily applied.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is:

1. In a combined spark intensifier and detector for internal combustion engines, the combination with the spark plug and the secondary cable, of spaced apart upper, inter-- mediate and lower plates of insulating material, a' fixed plate of conducting material situated between the lower and intermediate insulating plates, said conducting plate engaging the terminal of the spark pin", a

movable conducting plate, means for adjusting the gap between the movable conducting plate and the fixed conducting plate, and means for connecting the movable couduct ing plate to the secondary cable. 2. In a combined spark intensifier and detector for internal combustion engines, the combination with the spark plug and the secondary cable, of spaced apart upper, intermediate and lower plates of insulating material, a fixed plate of conducting material situated between the lower and intermediate insulating plates, said conducting plate engaging the terminal of the spark plug, a movable conducting plate, means for adjust" ing the gap between the movable conducting plate and the fixed conducting plate, said movable conducting plate sliding in the intermediate insulating plate, a conducting plate secured to the upper insulating plate and engaging the movable con'ducting plate, and means for secnringthe secondary cable to the conducting plate secured to the upper insulating plate.

Ina combined spark intensifier and de- 1 tector for internal combustion engines, the

combination with the spark plug and the sec 'ondary cable. of spaced apart upper intermediate and lower plates of insulating material, a fixed plate of conducting materia situated between the lower and intermediate terial and being capable of being moved into proximity with the shell of the spark plug. s

4. Akeoinbined spark intensifier and detector for internal combustion engines comprising a-detector, a'finger of flexible c0nducting material-the upper end bent back on itself, spaced apart upper, intermediate and lower plates of insulating material, the turned over end-of the finger, extending about one end of the lower insulating plate, the intermediate insulating plate having a longitudinal slot extending" from one end to intermediately of its length, a movable plate of conducting material slidable in the slot in the intermediate insulating plate, said movable conducting: plate having a pointed end. said upper and lower insulating plates having windows therein for exposing the extreinitycf'the turned over upper end of the finger and the pointed end of the movable conductimg plate, a plate of con ducting: material turned over on itself straddling. one end of the upper insulating plate and engaging the movable condnctingplate, and a terminal connection for the turned over conducting plate;

CHARLES HENRY- BEBINGFIELD. 

